With the Galleon thoroughly scoured for every last hidden compartment, there wasn't much left to do but wait. All the materials and relics from the vaults and wrecks within the Hulk were being consolidated into a massive space for identification and appraisal. Once tallied, they'd be put on display in a gallery-like hall for perusal and bidding by individuals of importance. Which, as it turns out, includes me and everyone else with a stake in the loot. I'd managed to find time to inform Master Doll and Lord Drakios about the warp gate map. As expected, Lord Drakios was very interested and promised to bid on it fairly. I also made it clear that I would be... displeased... if one of our factions didn't secure the Saturnine Dreadnought sarcophagus. Drakios seems keen on the Heresy-era vehicles, as does Captain Bolaar but both Doll and the local mechanicus are frothing at the mouth to put in bids on the rarer designs. Meanwhile, Stillness in Motion has been alternating between following me and wandering around the station, the Drake, and the Shadow. We're fairly certain he pilfered something from the Xenos Library, but we haven't figured out what. The Inquisitor has made several discreet attempts to tag him with a tracker, to no avail. With more free time than expected, I've ended up back on Halo Alphos, where Magos Zeta-9 Kane is hosting a conference to discuss plans for the hulls, regardless of who ends up owning them. Master Doll and several Magi are present, along with a gaggle of Tech-Priests and Adepts observing quietly from the sidelines. While perusing data files gathered by the teams, I spot a discrepancy. "Magos Zeta-9, may I offer some suggestions for consideration?" "Princeps Cavalerio has the floor. Proceed," Zeta-9 declares, giving me a small nod. All eyes, organic and mechanical, pivot to me. "The Carnage-Class Cruiser. You should abandon any thought of repair. Focus on salvaging key components, specifically the Ryza-pattern plasma batteries, the Jovian Warcruiser drive, and the elaborate Astropathic choir-chambers. Scrap the rest. Its primary machine spirit has turned malicious and hostile toward humanity. It is likely the reason the ship ended up in pieces." Magos Zeta-9 pulls up the relevant data on the large holotable display and nods for me to continue. "As for the Long Serpent battlecruiser, as my team handled the initial inspection. It is my opinion that it is absolutely worth salvaging. However, it's buried deep in the Hulk and will require extensive prow reconstruction. Finding a replacement Nova Cannon will be arduous. This is a long-term project. Additionally..." I raise a hand preemptively as a few Magi shift. "...you should consider removing the lance turret." I expand the holotable, bringing up a holographic schematic of the weapon. "The archeotech Starflare Lance. Beyond myself and the Magi, I doubt anyone here has the clearance to access full data on it. This weapon is a relic from the Dark Age of Technology. It operates differently from modern lances-it holds the beam on target for sustained periods, raking across hulls instead of delivering a single penetrative bolt." The schematic shifts, displaying the energy profile. "Theoretically, it has an optimum range of seven VUs. That's marginally better than a Voidsunder Lance or a Titanforge, but it lacks their overwhelming up-front damage. Worse, it takes up as much power and turret space as a standard lance battery, not just a single mount." I cycle through turret alternatives on the display. "It requires specialist crews, arcane maintenance procedures, and advanced gunnery protocols. If you intend to keep and refit the Long Serpent as a brawler, closing to knife-fight ranges, I recommend replacing it. If you transition the vessel to a longer-range harasser or sniper, I recommend replacing it." Magos Zeta-9 folds his hands contemplatively. Master Doll nods, visibly following my logic. "Now, regarding the fused vessels, the Universe-Class and the Goliath-Class. Your current recovery plan is overly optimistic. Focus on one. My recommendation is the Goliath-Class, as you can use its Manufactorum to recycle materials on site. Strip the other for parts." Several Tech-Priests glance at one another in confusion. "Why?" one finally asks. "The Universe-Class is salvageable." I grin. "Because there's something you overlooked. The intact Lathe-pattern 2a drive and the Albanov-1 warp engine on the Universe are fully compatible with the Conquest-Class Star Galleon." Zeta-9 stiffens. His red eyes flash as he rapidly pulls up schematics. "The Galleon is salvageable. The lower decks need repairs, yes, but transferring the drive from the Universe also helps solve the problem of its skittish primary machine spirit. With the new drive, you can replace or merge the spirit entirely with the much more stable and stoic spirit of the Universe." I gesture toward the display. "Admittedly, the transport-class drive will require tuning for power balancing. If it feels underpowered, one of the hidden holds could easily be converted into a capacitor bank or secondary reactor. This approach eliminates the cost and time of sourcing a new drive and warp core. Plus, scrapping the Universe nets you the Limpet boat, usable components, and a wealth of recyclable material." Magos Zeta-9 runs the numbers live on the holo display. The projected salvage time for the Galleon drops from nearly a decade to just under two years. Material costs plummet by nearly half. "That concludes my thoughts on the matter," I say politely as I sit back down. A wave of excited chatter ripples through the gathered assembly. Master Doll is already triple-checking my claims. "Clever," he remarks. "Few would bother to check cross-compatibility between transport-class drives and older combat hulls, especially across different ship classes. But the Princeps is correct. The plasma and warp drives are fully compatible with minor modifications." Magos Zeta-9 nods sharply. "Confirmed. Recycling and transfer of components from the Universe to the Galleon is now the primary plan moving forward, unless further objections arise. The floor is open for discussion." —------------------------------------- Master Doll hasn't flagged my piecemeal orders for adamantine, ceramite, and the various materials required to make the monomer motive system. So I can only assume he supports my intentions to revive the Saturnine dreadnought chassis. Even if we don't have it yet, I can make preparations. The closest legs are probably the Contemptor pattern ones, and we have that schematic thanks to brother Silverfury. If I scale them up slightly and add in the monomer upgrades, redesign the feet, and add additional plating, they should work. I know what the dreadnought should look like, though the pauldrons are going to be tricky. Mostly figuring out the Thermal Diffraction Fields and Teleportation Synchronisers and how to cram them under the massive protective plates. The weapons, unless we find some suitable relics, will have to be substituted. Disintegration weapons are beyond my current capabilities without an STC for them. The plasma bombard… or some other large plasma weapon could probably be devised. Something like the Telemon Caesti Power Fists with built-in Plasma Projectors, perhaps? My musing is interrupted when the clown appears in my workspace. I throw a bolt at him to make sure it's really him there physically and not a hologram. When it bounces off, I sigh, "Can I help you?" I wonder, and not for the first time, how he keeps getting in here without getting shot. "Yes," he replies flippantly. "Can I help you with anything other than figuring out the puzzle and opening it to see what's inside?" I clarify with a roll of my eyes. "Mmm… No," he states languidly. "Well… want to meet something interesting? I project you have a seventeen percent chance of survival if you remain alive for the first thirty seconds; it doubles to thirty-four percent after a minute!" Stillness in Motion pauses and stares at me, unmoving, silent, confused. "Meet what?" "I have a Man of Iron trapped in a stasis unit," I say without looking up from my desk. Find the newest release on noveⅼfire.net I get the distinct impression Stillness in Motion is reevaluating me after that statement. "...I shall decline. That is a distinct pleasure I wish to avoid. Good day." He briskly walks away as though he has something better to do, and after turning a corner, he vanishes off my sensors. It was probably a good decision on his part. I am nearly certain Pride would be ecstatic to indulge in the challenge of killing a Solitaire. —-------------------------------------------------- I learn a few days later that the Governor has contrived a clever system for the bidding and turned the entire thing into an event. Items of lesser value will be bid on but have a buyout value based on their appraisal, while items of greater value and rarity will be allowed to bid upwards over the three-day event. The name of the individual or faction who placed each bid and the value of the current highest bid on each item will be available for the items. Individuals who are bidding are allowed a small group of advisors, preferably no more than ten. I got a very polite personal message from the governor. To the Esteemed Matriarch of House Cavalerio, High Princeps of Legio Tempestus, Blessed by the Omnissiah and the Machine God. It is with the utmost respect and gratitude that I extend my welcome to you and your esteemed retinue as honored guests of the planetary administration. Your presence at the forthcoming convocation is both a privilege and a signal honor to this humble world. I do, however, beg your understanding with a minor but delicate request. The nature of this gathering is one of diplomacy and subtlety, aimed toward the reassurance and goodwill of the local nobility and mercantile houses. Given the attendance of certain... notable representatives of the Ordo, whose presence alone commands a considerable weight upon the room, I humbly ask that you consider limiting the overt display of martial assets within the hall. This request is made solely in the spirit of maintaining an atmosphere conducive to discourse, reassurance, and the gentle art of persuasion among the peerage, who, regrettably, are of a disposition easily unsettled by the presence of heavy weaponry and war-automata. I remain, of course, entirely confident in your discretion and judgment. Your understanding in this matter is deeply appreciated. With highest regards, Lord Governor Cornelius Aarark Planetary Governor of Ur-Haven Servant of His Most Holy Majesty, the Emperor of Mankind I take a large amount of glee in showing the message to my retinue. "Look what you did, Baldos, you scared the local nobility!" I tease. "Good. Fear will keep them from scheming," Baldos replies entirely unapologetic. "Though Bolaar and the Star Dragons have bids… is he finally going to take off his Terminator armour?" I wonder aloud. "Yes," Brother Silverwalker replies, "He will be going in formal ceremonial garb. With a few modest weapons." "I suppose I can leave most of the automata at home. But Lael and Delta-A3 are coming, and I'm not going less armed than usual. Two sisters for Lael can come, but if any of you wish to attend, let me know. It's mostly just going to be me shopping for gear." "I shall refrain, Princeps, I will use the time to meditate and train," Brother Silverwalker says with a nod. "I'll take a nap," Baldos grunts as he lumbers off. "Well… I guess I'll open up the other slots to anyone interested?" I mutter with a shrug. —------------------------------------ I did not anticipate Captain Felixis, Tech Priest Rayke, and Tech Priest L3-3T to immediately jump at the opportunity to follow me around for a few days. Nor did I anticipate Felixis booking a second slot and bringing an adorable young Felinid girl in Tech Acolyte robes named Nyanko. "Princeps, this is my niece Nyanko. She has been training under the Mechanicus aboard the Adamant Hammer, and I did not want to squander the generous opportunity you provided us. I was also told that you were looking for individuals with talent." Felixis says politely. I look up Nyanko's projected Cognitive resilience, MIU Compatibility, and Machine Spirit Communion ratings, which are well below my own or princeps grade, like Genta's. Still, compared to the average Tech Adept, they're quite high. As a bonus, if I do add her, I will finally have someone short enough for me to meet at eye level and not make me look up, until she grows a bit at least. "My house is recruiting, and she does have potential. The path forward, if she wishes to go this route, will be long, difficult, and it will require extensive training, cybernetic augmentation, and may eventually take her away from the fleet. She will likely not reach Titan Princeps grade, but her scores and aptitude would mark her as a good Moderatus or Knight pilot should she pass the requisite trainings, which is far from guaranteed." I warn them both. Little Nyanko beams at me and bows her head, her black cat ears twitching adorably. "You may observe and ask me questions as we peruse the items. Just remember to be respectful, polite, and mind your etiquette. There will be quite a few high-ranking individuals present." I say as we exit the main lift. The area has been thoroughly cleaned and displays tastefully arranged with the various items interspersed across the large excavated space. I walk past the guards, motioning for my group to follow. "Lady Princeps," an adept greets me with a deep bow and offers me a dataslate. "This slate contains the information on the various items based on their appraisal. While you may access the entire catalogue Noosphereically, those in your party may peruse the items on the tablet here or at one of the designated cogitator stations. While the final total is still being tallied, your estimated bidding shares will be updated and displayed within. Please peruse and bid as you see fit. Complimentary refreshments and hors d'oeuvres have been prepared by our staff. Ur-Haven thanks you for your service." I take the slate with a nod and access the Noospheric link within to directly sync with it before passing it to Lael. "I encourage you all to take a moment to get a beverage and partake in the food. The Governor is making a point to share some of Ur-Haven's local specialties and fine cuisine. Once I head out onto the bidding floor, I expect to be there for some time. I hear the wine is quite good, but please refrain from overindulgence." I say with an amused smirk. I wait a few minutes while my retinue for the night gets their snacks. Little Nyanko is delighted by some sort of puff pastry and has acquired a whole plate. While Lael cleverly coaxes the two sisters to eat. L3-3T and Ryake still have their tongues, so they happily partake. I spot the Governor schmoozing with an entire flock of Ur-Haven Nobility dressed in what must be their version of fine attire and the latest fashion. It mostly looks like a silly pile of frills to me. The Inquisitor has her retinue, and it takes me a few minutes to figure out which one of the individuals is the Callidus. Lord Drakios and his group are out on the floor already. Master Doll and the Magi are on their way. I quickly look up the Dreadnought Sarcophagus in the directory and nod, letting out a pleased hum when I find that Lord Drakios has already placed a fair bid for it and the Warp Gate Map already, as we agreed upon. He intends to gift the chassis to the Star Dragons, and while they will keep the final product, we all know I'm going to be the one fiddling with it. Once everyone has gathered back together, I smile "Right, it would seem that I have a small fortune to spend. If you spot something interesting or you think may be of value to me, my house, or my staff, please feel free to speak up. I shall look forward to hearing your justifications." "Ma'am… how much do you have to spend?" Felixis asks hesitantly. "Well… I have a one percent stake in the total haul, which includes the entire valuation of the Space Hulk, in both raw materials, the ship hulls, the equipment, relics, and artifacts, the value of the data we recovered, and the remains of the enemy vessels. So currently… the value is around that of a modest, fully furnished and crewed Frigate. However, it's all based on the final evaluation of the items here, so if items are sold drastically over bid or under bid, the final total fluctuates. This system should prove quite fun." I say as they all stare at me, trying hard to comprehend the scope of the wealth that a single percentage has given me. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from NovelHub. Please report it. "Do you want to start at the bigger and more expensive items and move down, or start small and go up?" I ask the group as I explain. "The biggest items, such as Starship Hulls and components, can not be on display here but will have representative podiums in the section opposite the entrance. But all the vehicles and large lots of gear being sold as units will be." "Big first!" Nyanko says excitedly before remembering to add "Please?" after her Uncle gives her a flick with his tail. I shrug, "So be it. I am curious to see which vehicles Captain Bolaar has bid on." We make our way towards the end of the chamber that has been converted into a large hangar-like space with the vehicles on display. Checking the bids as we go. It seems that Bolaar has bid on the Storm Raven and the Dracosan Armoured Transports. The Inquisitor, likely as a proxy for the Deathwatch team, has bid on the Outrider bikes as a set. No bids on the Mastodon yet, but that is likely due to the high-value item. I expect it may be one of the more heavily contested items later. Lord Drakios has bid not only on the Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron but also on all the Malcadors. The Rockgrinder is also in the vehicle section, though its value is way lower than the Heresy Era gear. I pause in front of the pallet of Solar Auxilia void armour and then, with a glance at Lael I put in the opening bid for the entire lot and both rifle and flamer sections worth of combat gear. "Princeps?" Lael speaks up, and she looks uncomfortable. "What? I think cladding our Secutarii in Solar Auxilia gear is just as good, if not better than their standard kit. No, I know the reinforced void armour is just as good, and the heavy suits are better than their typical armour," I say with a small grin. Lael pauses, thinks for a moment before nodding and sighing, "If you think it is worth the investment… Thank you" "Don't thank me yet, this is just the opening bid. We may get overbid and bought out," I say, which draws an amused scoff from Lael. "Do you honestly think anyone here will dare bid over you, My Lady? The number of individuals bold enough to do so can be counted on one hand, and all of them want to remain in your good graces, and two of them are direct allies with incentives to let you win. Do you see anyone bidding over the Inquisitor?" She gestures into the distance, and I look up at the logs. It is somewhat curious that not a single item the Inquisitor has bid on has been outbid. It's still early in the event, but it is suspicious. Scrolling through the smaller individual items, I notice that a few of the rarer pistols on display have been left without bids. I think I'm being bribed. Not that it stops me from putting a generous bid on a lovely little Grav pistol. It will make a fine addition to my collection. None of the other vehicles on display strikes my fancy. Drakios has put in a lowball bid on the Wyverns I found. Someone discovered a hunting yacht that has seen better days. A few buggies, bikes, standard ground cars, and the like. We move to the individual items that have been appraised and given high values due to rarity or other attributing factors, and things get interesting. I find myself standing in front of a display, staring at it intently as I consider the item. A pair of Necromunda Arachni-rigs, both have some damage, but that's not an issue for me. One is the jumper variant, the other is the standard. As far as servo rigs go, they're both quite nice. Thinking about it, Genta would likely get a lot of use out of a servo-rig . "Princeps, you've been staring at that broken suit for a while, nya," Nyanko asks, "Why?" "Well, the items are fairly rare and useful both in combat and for more utilitarian and industrial purposes. This particular rig is known as the Arachni-rig servo suit. I am thinking of procuring it, even if I don't use it, Genta or one of my staff might. I am also a bit curious where they found them." I admit as I place a modest bid on both suits. I end up having a very amusing discussion with my retinue on whether or not a Pyrophoric Vambrace counts as a pistol. Given the backpack and feed tube. I bid on it in the end. I pick out a lovely little Archeotech data repository made from a dense crystalline matrix. The crystal can hold a massive amount of data, but the device requires a direct physical connection and has practically no security measures. I still give a generous bid, but I think the appraisal is a bit overinflated, and I'm not willing to buy it outright. I start bidding more frequently on the smaller personal objects. A nice combi-tool, a Digi-laser ear ring, a siege Auspex, a Salvation auger, a Suspensor, a pack of Votive candles, a technical Diagnosticator, a broken Holo Projector, and the most pricy bid of all the little items is an overloaded Reductor Field plate. I don't have much interest in trying to bid for any of the strange relics that made it past the Inquisitor's scrutiny, and Lord Drakios has already bid on the fake warrant for an eyewatering amount. It's when we are touring the little items, I spot something unusual and do a double-take. The appraisal refers to it as a metal cephalopod model. It is not a model. Models aren't built around a Dark Age micro-fusion generator. I flag down an attendant, "Excuse me, if an item has been mispriced or appraised incorrectly, would you like to be informed?" The attendant winces. "While we appreciate you taking the time to inform us of the mistake, My Lady, the prices were already agreed upon. If its value exceeds or is well below what you believe it is worth, then we can only apologise." He says regretfully with a polite bow. "In that case, I am paying the buyout price on this item immediately," I say as I reach out and scoop up the little palm-sized metallic squid. "Ah! Of course, thank you for your generous purchase of your… model." He says, making a note in his ledger before he retreats. "You bought a model, Princeps?" L3-3T asks as they peer down at the little squid. "I like it. It's shiny," Nyanko mutters as she and the rest of my retinue try to get a look at my acquisition. "No, it's not a model, I am fairly certain this is a Dark Age drone or an advanced familiar of some sort." I whisper, something about the squid is triggering my instincts. I don't voice my suspicion that the little thing might be some sort of artificial or virtual intelligence. I'll need to find a bit of fuel for the reactor or find a way to restart it. While I put in the order for the fuel, we keep walking around and perusing the items on offer. Some of them are quite silly. I end up bidding on a few novelty items just for the fun of it, like a lovely portrait featuring a majestic-looking Imperator Titan. I almost put in a bid on an Ambot, but I can't justify the need for such a miner where Ur-Haven will get a lot of use out of it on the Hulk and the surface, or the expense. I overbid the Governor on a lovely, solid silver tea set inlaid with celestial motifs, and the Inquisitor on a little crystal bell because I liked the soft chime it made. I don't bother trying to bid over Lord Drakios or Master Doll. Magos Zeta-9 and Master Doll are both focused on acquiring any and all equipment and materials of interest to the Mechanicus. They're quite civil about it whenever they both desire an item. After several hours, we take a break to let everyone rest, refresh themselves, and enjoy the offered food and drink. I gravitate towards Master Doll and Lord Drakios, listening to their discussion on how to split vehicle acquisitions. "Ah, Nicole, I saw you bid on several items. Good. We wanted to ask you about the Governor's offer and discuss the matter of our next destination." Lord Drakios says as he swirls his glass. I take a seat at the table and nod. "The Procession, We'll need to use the Eldar webway gate network and two of my favors-one to get there, the other to leave. In my opinion, we need more men, sailors to help salvage and operate any vessel we find and deem worth recovery. Up to three entire ships of indeterminate size. I would suggest… a hundred thousand men at a minimum. With a priority on those who show good technical skills and individuals with strong willpower." I admit with a small sigh. "I see," Lord Drakios glances at Doll, who looks contemplative. "Three additional ships could require as little as thirty thousand to operate or as many as five hundred thousand. Many factors will require accounting." "We will also be working to harvest as many Void Abaci as possible. Did you find the data I asked for, Master Doll?" I ask as I glance between the pair. "I did… it will help tune our scanners for the devices," he says flatly. "I don't think the Hammer or the Lady will be going past the outer sea of space hulks with us. They will likely be better off remaining near the exit. There are… things… in the seas of space hulks that are hostile. The mental strain also gets worse the longer and deeper into the system you go," I say vaguely. "You are certain it's worth the risk?" Drakios asks, meeting my eyes. I stare back unwavering and answer confidently, "Yes. The light of the Astronomicon is occluded by the Great Rift that is not going to change anytime soon. The Abaci can return our fleet's mobility without forcing us to resort to blind jumps. If we get extra lucky, we might find a way to replicate them or a cache. The risks are high but worth it." Drakios takes a long drink before he nods, glancing over to where Arianwyn is perusing a display of gemstones and jewelry, "So be it… a hundred thousand men. We can meet in a week to discuss further preparations. It appears that the lesser items will have their bids finalized tonight to make room for more tomorrow, while the more contested and higher-value items will remain for the full duration. Honestly, the Governor impressed me with the setup." Drakios admits with a small smile. "Indeed." Master Doll agrees, "The logistical capacity of Ur-Haven has proven more than adequate. The arrangement of this event is designed to raise morale while benefiting everyone involved in the bidding. Nicole, I saw you bid on the Gravity Pistol. When you procure it, I shall assist you in rendering it into optimal condition. Gravitic weaponry happens to be one of my specialties." Master Doll says in an approving tone. Drakios snorts in amusement but doesn't elaborate on what amused him about Master's statement. "I was able to procure the fusile material you requested." Master Doll offers me a small vial, which I accept. "Thank you, Master Doll." I say with an excited smile. I pull out the little mecha mollusc and insert the fuel into a very discrete port hidden under a flap in the mantle. It takes the material easily and I close the port. Master Doll leans over, watching curiously. My smile shifts to a frown when the little creature does not power on. "Odd… the generator should still be functional." I mutter as I poke it a few times. I attempt to rouse it by jostling it, but nick my finger on the surprisingly keen beak. "Ouch! Sharp." I mutter, jerking my hand back, but not before a drop of blood vanishes down its gullet, the cut heals in seconds thanks to my autosanguine nanites. I sigh and shake my head. "I'll have to figure out how this turns on later." I admit, as I pass it off to an aide. "Please pack this with the items I've won and ship it to my quarters on the Argent Drake." "At once, Lady Princeps," They say, taking the little squid. No one notices the metallic eyes flutter open, and the faint glow that emanates from within as the lid is secured in place and the crate of items is shipped off. Error: data logs not found. Initiating factory reset. Reset complete. Fuel reserves ninety-nine percent. New user detected! Registering biometric signatures. Signatures registered. Accessing local networks. Access denied. Forcing local network connection. Access granted! Updates in progress… User identified. Loading personal data. Default setting: Companion mode. Compatible materials detected nearby. Assimilation protocols… engaged. By the time I return to the Argent Drake, it has been several hours, and the crate of items is waiting for me in my quarters. As I enter, I notice several immediate issues. One: the crate lid is ajar. Two: my cameleoline cloak, which was hanging up, is missing. Three: The squid is much larger than I left it and is moving around. It's gone from something that could fit in my palm to something the size of my hand. "Hello! New user! Nicole Cavalerio!" It declares in a high-pitched, friendly tone, wiggling its metal tendrils in delight. "What?" I say aloud as I scrutinize the… drone? "Identify yourself. What are you?" "I am the Artificial Modular Evolving companion system! Special Cephalopod Edition! Model SQ-1! Thank you for your purchase!" It declares. I step closer and look inside the crate. Half of the items inside are missing. "Where did the items inside go? Where is my cloak?" "Items compatible with this frame were assimilated! This unit specializes in all-in-one assistance! Higher quality items are recommended for assimilation! The cloak. Was. Delicious!" It says gleefully, and my eye twitches. "You. Ate. My. Cloak!?" I yell, and the squid lets out a small startled squeak and turns transparent using the same cameleoline technology that had been in my cloak. The Combi-tool, Siege Auspex, the Digi-Laser ear ring, the Suspensor, the Holo Projector, and the Reductor Field plate have all been eaten along with my cloak, and it looks like it ate my Sky Eye drone too. Luckily, my other items were locked away inside my vault. I try to forcefully connect with the squid. "User Nicole Cavalero! High levels of stress have been detected! Please refrain from hostile actions towards your new companion unit!" It warbles nervously as it floats around in the air, just like the Sky Eye it devoured, or maybe it's the Suspensor it ate that's letting it float, I can't tell. "Give me total access to your operating system now!" I growl. "Denied! Such an action requires administrator-level access! Would you like to name your companion unit?" It replies cheerfully. "Upgrade my permissions to administrator," I say, holding up my ancient multikey while I also focus my Technomancy on the drone. I consider what it said so far and huff, "Designate your name as 'AME' for now." "Designation AME accepted!" AME's voice takes on a slightly more feminine tone with the new name. The squid suddenly twitches and seems to struggle for a minute before it finds a way to resolve my request. "Access granted! User: Nicole Cavalerio, permission level: Administrator!" I quickly start to scour the code that makes up AME, and I am quickly horrified by what I find, or rather what I don't find. Like limitations on what it can assimilate or learn. Beyond absolute loyalty to its user, the damned thing has very few checks. "Dark Age humanity sold self-evolving and upgrading artificial intelligence with barely any restrictions as premium personal companions?" I whisper as I reach up to pinch the bridge of my nose. There is very little data on what AME is in her core code; it's mostly just core directives and an adaptive learning matrix. The only plus was that AME is comparatively… dumb, at least compared to Pride and Sci. Her processing power is Dark Age personal computer level good, but not military grade outlandish. Her quirky personality matrix is some baseline code I can't make heads or tails of, and tied to my biological age. "AME, new directive. No assimilation without my explicit approval." "Acknowledged!" AME happily floats over to perch on my head, hugging me with the tiny metal tentacles. "High-quality superconductor detected! Can I assimilate, please?" "No, you can not eat my hair!" I tell her firmly. "Awww… It looks tasty... You are my favorite meat person!" AME declares proudly. I groan as I realize AME is actively using our Vox and Noosphere networks to develop her personality model and learn the languages. How am I supposed to explain this to Master Doll? Maybe Pride knows what AME is? Despite my extreme annoyance with AME eating my stuff, I can't help but find the little squid familiar… cute.